BRITISH MARKET

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 23017, 20 April 1938, Page 14

BRITISH MARKET

| DOMINION PRODUCE I SPECTRE OF RESTRICTION II NEED FOR REGULATED SUPPLIES I j EMPIRE CONFERENCE VIEWS ? [by telegraph—pbess association] "WELLINGTON, Tuesday f* The principal New Zealand delegates ■ to the Empire Producers' Conference in Sydney returned by the Awatea to-day. • In discussing the future of tho British market for "Dominion produce, Mr. "\\. f J. Poison, M.P., said there was no escape from the conviction that restric- ; tion'loomed up in future if New Zeaf land and Australia were to contiifue j developing. . [ " Briefly," said Mr. Poison, " tho ' position simply is that the British market : is not an increasing market, because the population is stationary, and the authorities seem to agree with tho English, delegates who expressed the opinion that it might recede. Clearly -everything is to be gained by the regulation of supply, instead of a haphazard method. The conference realised, however, . that behind tho regulation of supply there must be the spectre of restriction for countries which were hound to develop." y *. Orderly Marketing Overdue Mr. ;Polson said that the English delegates had been essentially fair, and had said that they would do their best to combat restriction. The formation of commodity councils and a plan for orderly marketing was surely already overdue, and the extraordinary unanimity achieved among delegates made one realise that producers generally yer© awake to the necessity for orderly marketing. <■ Mr. Poison added that there was a demand at the conference for producer control without interference by any 'Government with their products. They * lad discovered in Queensland, which £. had had a Labour Government for » years,' that the Government did not f seek to be even represented on the J producers' boards. The delegates were surprised to find that there was encouragement for private enterprise. Frank Discussions The Dominion president of the New Zealand Farmers' Union, Mr. W. W. Mulholland, said a statement would be issued on behalf of the Farmers' Union delegation, but, as it was desired to give full consideration to its preparation, it would not be available today.

Mr. Mulholland said there had been very ,free and frank discussions affecting producers' interests generally. The atmosphere of the conference was ex ceadingly friendly.